Wheeled teeter toy



Feb. 11, 1958 R.-G. IRELAND WHEELED TEETER TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1956 INVENTOR floss G, fieZavuZ ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-SheetZ Filed March 29, 1956 INVENTOR 055 G. j7'ezanoz ATTORNEYS United States Patent WHEELED TEETER TOY Ross G. Ireland, Jeannette, Pa.

Application March 29, 1956, Serial No. 574,699

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-107) This invention relates to pull toys of the general type in which a figure-carrying teeter is mounted on a wheelsupported base and oscillates as the toy is pulled along a floor or other surface.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction in which the teeter is positively oscillated in both directions instead of having it positively actuated in one direction only and gravity-actuated in the other direction, as heretofore. The teeter is thus uniformly actuated regardless of the speed at which the toy is pulled, whereas such uniform operation at fast speed is not possible when the teeter is operated partly by gravity, as insuflicient time is allowed for complete gravity effected movement of the teeter in one direction before the next impulse is imparted to move it in the other direction.

Another object is to provide a novel construction in which a longitudinally reciprocable actuator is operated by a wheel-driven axle and is connected with the teeter for oscillating the latter.

Yet another object is to provide a novel wheel-supported base upon which the teeter is mounted, said base having a guideway for the reciprocable teeter actuator.

A further object is to construct the wheel-supported base from right and left longitudinal sections and transverse members rigidly connecting said sections and holding them in spaced relation, the inner edges of said base sections and said transverse members being cooperable in forming the guideway for the teeter actuator.

A still further object is to provide a simple yet durable toy which may be inexpensively manufactured and profitably marketed at a reasonable price.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and particularly claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the toy;

Fig. 2 is a rear end view;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view partly broken away and in section; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The preferred construction is disclosed and will be rather specifically described but attention is invited to the possibility of making variations. Also, while wood is preferably used for most elements, the invention is not of course restricted thereto.

A base 5 is constructed from right and left longitudinal sections 6 and 6a and transverse dowels 7 rigidly connecting said sections 6 and 6a and holding them in spaced relation. The dowels 7 are downwardly spaced from the top of the base sections 6 and 6a and cooperate with the inner edges of these sections in providing the base with a longitudinal guideway 8 for the longitudinally reciprocable teeter actuator bar 9.

Front and rear wheels 10 and 10a and front and rear axles 11 and 11a are provided, said wheels being secured to said axles. The axles 11 and 11a are rotatable in bearing bores 12 and 12a, respectively, said bores being formed in the base sections 6 and 6a. The rear axle 11a is provided with a cylindrical cam 13 between the rear end portions of the base sections 6 and 6a.

The rear end portion of the teeter actuator bar 9 has a curved notch 14 in its lower side and engaging the upper part of the cam 13, and said actuator bar also has downwardly projecting pins 15 and 15a at the front and rear portions of said cam, respectively. Thus, as the toy is pulled and the cam 13 rotated, said cam will reciprocate the teeter actuator bar 9. As the high part of the cam rises, it somewhat elevates the rear end portion of the actuator bar 9 as seen in Fig. 1 but this is not objectionable.

Right and left teeter supports 16, 16a are rigidly secured to the base sections 6 and 6a, respectively, the inner sides of said supports being preferably flush with the inner edges of said base sections 6, 6a. The teeter 17 is pivotally supported at 1 between the supports 16 and 16a, and said teeter is provided with a central downwardly projecting pin 19 which is loosely received in an opening 20 in the actuator bar 9. Thus, as this actuator bar is reciprocated by the cam 13, it will positively oscillate the teeter 17 in both directions.

The teeter 17 may carry any desired figures. For example, a lion simulation 21 and a dog simulation 22, are shown.

A suitable pull cord 23 is shown having a looped portion 24 extending through openings 25 in the base 5.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a novel, simple, and durable toy has been provided and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

A teeter toy comprising a base composed of right and left longitudinal sections and transverse members rigidly connecting said sections and holding them in spaced relation, said transverse members being spaced downwardly from the top of said base, wheeled supporting means for said base including a driven axle, said axle having a cam operable in one end portion of the space between said right and left base sections, a longitudinally reciprocable teeter actuator bar in said space and disposed over said transverse members and said cam and resting thereon, said actuator bar having means depending therefrom and engaging said cam at opposite sides thereof to cause reciprocation of the actuator bar as said cam rotates, right and left teeter supports projecting upwardly from said right and left base sections respectively, a figurecarrying teeter pivotally mounted between said supports, and a pin projecting downwardly from the central portion of said teeter, said actuator bar having an opening therein loosely receiving the lower end of said pin, whereby said teeter is oscillated as said actuator bar reciprocates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,377,811 Robins June 5, 1945 2,772,513 Hagen Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,408 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1948 251,680 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1948 

